President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Cross on the late Department of Migrant Workers secretary Maria Susana “Toots” Ople. He described her as an amazing public servant and one of the best people he has ever met. The ceremony took place at Malacañang yesterday, coinciding with the anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal's death.
At the Malacañang ceremony, President Marcos praised the principles Ople laid down for overseas Filipino workers, or OFWs. “The moment she got into government, again, she laid the groundwork. Everything that we are doing now, all of the successes that you see, she laid the groundwork for that,” Marcos said. Ople was appointed secretary in 2022 and died on August 22, 2023, at age 61 after battling breast cancer.
Under Ople's leadership, the Philippines entered 42 bilateral agreements with 25 countries. She established the One Repatriation Command Center and the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital. She also launched the Department of Migrant Workers mobile application and the OFW Pass.
Marcos compared Ople to Rizal, noting that both believed love of country is expressed through courage, discipline, and service. “In the middle of a great trial, she did not abandon her duty to the nation... She fought while she could. Until the end, she served,” he said. “She knew the sand in her hourglass was beginning to run low, yet she gave what little time she had left to ensure that our Filipino migrant workers would continue to be protected, even after she is gone.”
He added, “She is one of the best people that I have ever met in my life.” The government continues to follow Ople's principles in protecting OFWs.
